Brianna Fitzgerald Becomes New Paltz's First WBCA All-America First Team Selection
New Paltz Sports Information Department
Atlanta, GA — The Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Thursday the NCAA Division III award winners for the 2025-26 season.
There are only 10 players selected every year to the coveted Coaches' All-America list and for the first time in program history SUNY New Paltz was represented among them, as graduate guard/forward Brianna Fitzgerald became the first Hawk to earn First-Team All-America WBCA honors. She was joined by University of Maine's Jaycie Christopher, Bates' Elsa Daulerio, Caroll University's Natalie Gricius, Scranton's Kaci Kranson, Ohio Wesleyan's Macy Miller, Washington & Lee University's Mary Schleusner, Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Paige Seckar, Denison's Ada Taute and NCAA Division III Player of the Year Caroline Peper of NYU.
Fitzgerald had previously been named a WBCA All-America honorable mention selection twice in 2023 and 2024, becoming the first to do so, and now adds another prestigious program first to her decorated resume.
"We applaud the members of the 2026 WBCA NCAA Division III Coaches' All-America team," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle M. Donehew. "Each of these young women has achieved an elite level of play in NCAA Division III and by doing so has increased public awareness of the women's game."
The honor comes on the heels of Fitzgerald earning her second Jostens Trophy finalist selection, along with being named to her second D3Hoops.com Region III Outstanding Player of the Year, announced Monday. Fitzgerald had previously earned two D3Hoops.com third-team All-American picks in her career and awaits more than likely another with the organization releasing its All-American list Saturday.
Fitzgerald had accomplished nearly every statistical feat and holds numerous program records as she further cements her status as not only the best player in program history but possibly the best athlete to ever compete at SUNY New Paltz. Only eight other Hawks have notched three or more All-America honors with 1966 men's soccer alum Gene Ventriglia the only non-swimmer along with Fitzgerald to earn three All-American recognitions as they join men's swimming's Paul Strothenke '86, Paul Robbins '86, Lou Petto '94, women's swimming's Michelle Coombs '08, Erica Ellis '09, Laura Lipp '08, Ashley Williamson '07 and men's diving's John Schwartz '90.
Fitzgerald proved herself as one of the best in the country this past season, leading a nationally ranked SUNY New Paltz team to its eighth SUNYAC title and ninth NCAA Appearance where the Hawks went on to defeat Immaculata in the first round. Fitzgerald was the catalyst in the win, recording 24 points and 17 rebounds, while shooting 8-for-16 with a team-leading six assists and three steals. She then backed up the performance by leading all scorers in a second-round matchup against hosting No. 11 John Caroll. The Dix Hills, NY native finished with 28 points on 11-for-24 from the field with nine rebounds, five assists, a block and two steals.
Fitzgerald never missed a game, starting in all 29, and led the team in minutes played with 930 to average 32.1 minutes a contest. She averaged 18.1 points per game with 525 points on the year — second most in program history only to her own total of 545 following the 2024-25 season — while ranking 18th in total points in the nation. She tied 29th in field goals made, 14th in total steals (96), 24th in steals per game (3.31), while averaging nine rebounds and four assists per game, all career bests. She totaled 11 double-doubles on the year and became just the 10th player in Division III history, and less than 20 ever in NCAA Basketball across all divisions, male or female, to register a quadruple double, achieving the feat in just three quarters in an 85-41 blowout win over Potsdam, posting 15 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 11 steals with one block. She was named D3Hoops.com Team of the Week honors after the feat, the second honor of the year and fourth of her career.
Fitzgerald is one of five players for SUNY New Paltz women's basketball to be recognized by the WBCA as Kit Small '17, Lindsay Bettke '19, Rachel Simon '19 and Maddie Van Pelt '23 all earned honorable mention honors.
To read the official WBCA press release, click here.
